Haphazard Reds face uphill battle

The Crusaders hope it stays that way on Friday when they begin a must-win run of five games if they are to squeeze into the playoffs. Photo / Getty Images

There's menace coming from the Reds but any influence from Brad Thorn will not be felt until next season.

Thorn will guide their emerging forwards but until then the Reds have to push ahead with a group whose impact has rarely matched their impact throughout this Super rugby campaign.

The Crusaders hope it stays that way on Friday when they begin a must-win run of five games if they are to squeeze into the playoffs. Their erratic work makes that seem a longshot especially when away games with the Waratahs, Hurricanes, Blues and Brumbies follow.

However the Crusaders should tune up for that sequence with victory at home against the Reds who are second last on the table with two wins this season.

There's pedigree among the visitors with James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Adam Thomson and Liam Gill in the pack but they have been unable to find enough cohesion to help Will Genia ignite his young backline.

There's some crunch from Samu Kerevi at centre, solidity from Anthony Fainga'a and James O'Connor dashes around on the flanks however it all looks a bit haphazard.

Not that the Crusaders will be concentrating too much on their rivals. They were better last round against the Hurricanes but need to make a great deal more impact to climb towards finals levels.

Both teams have background issues which are festering enough to provide some distraction if they are not in the right zone.

The Reds are trying hard to persuade injured Quade Cooper to stay rather than sign in Europe while the Crusaders are dealing with the coaching puzzles of Tabai Matson being chased by the Blues and Leon MacDonald changing his mind about replacing Aaron Mauger next season.

The Crusaders will have Richie McCaw back from concussion to help channel any players who lose their focus but there are no more boosts expected to the playing roster.

They need to build on more of the direct work they brought out against the Hurricanes and bend the line more in midfield before pushing to breach on the flanks. Then they should extract more toll from Nemani Nadolo who is such a brute on the left wing.

This is likely to be the last home game in Crusaders livery for McCaw, Daniel Carter, Colin Slade and Tom Taylor which should be another spur to get it right on the night.

It would also be a tonic for the coaching group and act as a stimulus for them to recommit to working together next season. This is step one of five the Crusaders have to make if they are to continue a tradition of qualifying for the playoffs since 2002.